Wire line ends and method of forming same



Feb. 8, 1938. E. E. WHERRY 2,107,810

WIRE LINE ENDS AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME Filed Nov. 29, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l E, SIP-L EUWHEPPH ATTORN EYS,

Feb. s, 1938. E, WHERR 2,107,810

WIRE LINE ENDS AND METHOD OF FORMING SAME Filed Nov. 29, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Earl E- DEEEB ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 8, 1938 l i r STATE PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims. 7 his invention :relates to wireline ends and me hod offo mins samea 1 in industry, it is frequently necessary to thread ,aimultiple wire cableor line through a restricted 11,, opening or a plurality of adjacent openings, such ,-,as the fcableemployed ,in the rotarydrilling of oilwell'sand operating through the hoisting block 1 strung from sheavesatthe derricks crown. Another example is the calf 0r casing-v line no l' hreacled between theshe'aves of a hoisting block sand the plurality otsheaves at the derrick crown. ,hasbeen'found very difiicult to thread such sheaves becauseotthe restricted spaces, 7 third; example of its use islin threading wires p fitguard lines through the holes provided in fconcrete or metal, postsSpositioned along highwaysat curves, and;the. like. J g

he ri ncipal object of theinvention is to proe a, novel, wire line end shaped to. be readily breaded through restricted openings.

no er 'impbrtantiobject is to I provide alwire dhaving a tapered nose or extremity. V "another important;objectuis to provide ch a 'wire line end having :itsgreatest width reat 1'] than the diameter of the line itself.

therfinflportan't object is to provide methods for'the production'of such 'a'wireline end. 7 Other objects and advantagesfof the invention U130, I l beapparent during the course of the follow- :in'g. detailed description, taken in connection with 'the"accompanyingfdrawings, forming a part of 'Et s specification and in which drawings:'-

Figures 3, 4, 6,181: and fib'are sections, all being or a'wire line in' various stages while'being profvidedwith the novel wire line end, Figures 3, 4, 6 and 82 being, upon' their respective lines of Fig mes "2, 5, and 7 '-'t'i'ally the sam ine asI Figu're 8b but showinga' "rough surfape, ,which rough surface has been moothdfas in Figure sb'g Figures 8a, and 8b "re 'ecti ns uponasome'v'vhat enlarged scale.

l' 'lgtires ik mj 1'3, -and*"are perspective views nd- Figures'dL 12Iand'14 are sections taken upon irrespective lines 'o'f'Figures '10 and '13, all be- 'ingiof awire line and illustrating-another method H voiwproducing the novelwire line end, the

v finished end beingiillustrated in Figure 15. I

,'50-i;:iFigl1res'16', 17, 19,120, and 21 are perspective v iews,-and Figure'18 asection on the line l8l8 of Figure 17, all being of a wire line and illustrating still another method of producingv the @SEQ? f Ol Sv through the blocks and over the F ures, 1, 5, and T7 are perspective views and 'jand' Figure 3a being. on substan- I EarlE Wherry, OkIahomaCity, Okla. Application November 29,1935, Serial No, 52,251

Figures 22, 23, and 25 are perspective views and Figure 24a section substantially upon the line 24-24 of Figure 23, these figures being of a wire line and illustrating another method of producing the novel wire line end, the completed end being shown in Figure 25.

I In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown both the preferred and modified forms of the invention and wherein similar reference characters designate correspon din g partsthroughout the several views, the wire line is designated in each form as A, and the novel line wire ends are designated generally 13, C D, and E.

, The wire line A comprises a plurality of bend- I able and flexible wire strands shown, by way of "example, as numbering seven and numbered to 36 inclusive, preferably twisted or woven into a line having a rounded cross section as shown, for

, example, in Figures 3, 11,18, and 24. But, with- K p out invention, -a conventional wire line may be "employed having the individual strands of a cross "section other than circular or made up of a plurality of smaller-wire strands, such wire lines 'beingwell known in the art. Preferably, the line is so laid that one strand, 30 for example, is sub-' 25 'stantiallydiametrically opposite another strand,

'33 for example, at any certain portion of the lays,

g as is shown in'Figures 3 to 6, 11, 12, and 18. When a strand is cut back from the free end 3'! of the wire line A and removed, a spiral groove remains, and when two or more adjacent strands are cut back from the wire line end 31, a spiral groove remainseach groove being definedby a I portion of the surface of adjacent strands.

I The wire line ends'B, C, D,and E have features in common and substantially similar corresponding parts or portions, so'that similar reference characters will designate these parts throughout "the views.

' Each ,wire line end B, C, D, and E comprises an eye portion 40, preferably much longer than wide. In fact, so that the wire line can be readily threaded as set out, the greatest width of the eye portion 40 is no greater than the diameter of the line A. Conversely, the diameter of the line A is at least as great as the greatest width of the eye portion 40. The eye portion 40 is preferably 7 oval when viewed through the eye 4| and has its outer extremity of nose 42 rounded by the provision of a bight 43 at this end of the eye portions This nose may be provided with a ferrule or cap 44. Extendingfromthis bight 43 are arms 45 which define a part of the eye 41. The opposite end of the eye portion 40, where it, or the arms45,

join the wire line A preferably is encircled by a coat 46 of metal which extends, as well, over the faces of the free ends of any wire strands 3|] to 36 which may terminate there, thus providing a cap for such free ends. It is preferred that this coat 46 have no rough nor sharp portions.

Now as for the method for constructing the wire line end B, shown in Figures 1 to 8b inclusive. A number of the strands of the wire line A are cut back from the free end 31 to the points 5|! so that there is one or more strand remaining extending beyond the points 50 on the line A. For example, the strands 3B and 35 may be severed at the points 58 leaving, in the example shown, strands 3| to 34 and 35. Thereupon, a number of the remaining strands are out back to the points 5| which are intermediate the end 3'3 and the points 58 of the line A. In the example shown, strands 3|, 34, and 38 are so severed, leaving strands 32 and 33. It will be: noted in Figure 3 that the points where these strands 32 and 33 lay in the line A are diametrically opposite the points 59. The length of the strands 32 and 33, measured from the points 5| should be such that, when the strands 32 and 33 are untwisted or straightened out and then each bent or doubled upon itself to form the bight 43, arms and eye 4|, the free ends of the strands 32 and 33 may be inserted into the spiral groove left in the line A by the removed portions of the strands 3i) and 35, so that the free ends of the strands 32 and 33 will abut the points 56, as shown particularly in Figure 5. The free ends of the strands 32 and 33 may be united to the points of the strands 30 and 35 in any approved way, such as by a weld 52 which is preferably smoothed down. V

The cap or ferrule 44 as well as the coat 46 may be provided also by welding, and the rough weld, as shown in Figure 8a, smoothed down, as shown in Figure 8b.

Referring now to the method of providing the wire line end C, shown in "Figures 9 to 15, a section of a single wire strand, for example the strand 35, is cut back from. the free end 31 of the wire line A to the 'point 59, leaving strands 3|! to 34 and 36 untouched. Thereupon, all but one strand is cut back to the points 5| which are intermediate the end 3land the point 50. Preferably, all but strand 32 are so cut back so that the strand which lies diametrically opposite the point 59 will be strand 32. The lengthof the strand 32, measured from the point 5| should be such that when it is doubled back, as described in the construction of the line end B, its free end may be laid into the spiral groove left by the removal of the severed portion of strand 35, with its free end in abutment with the point 50 and secured as heretofore set out. Preferably, the same welds are made in the formation of the line end C as in the construction of the line end B.

In the form of the line end D,.shown in Figures 16 to 21, a somewhat different procedure is followed to provide substantially the same wire end heretofore described. In this case four strands such as 3|], 32, 33, and 35, are cut back from the free end 31 of the line A to the point 50, leaving strands 3|, 34, and 36 untouched. It will be noted in Figure 18 that the several points 50 are at diametrically opposite sides of the line A. Now, by laying, in the two spiral grooves provided by the removal of these portions of strands 30, 32, 33, and 35,'the free ends of the arms 10 of a pair of hairpin-like wire members, each member having a bight 1| joining the arms 10, so that the free ends of the arms 10 are in abutment with the points 50, and then securing the free ends to the line A, an eye portion is provided which may be additionally treated, as by welding, to provide the cap or ferrule 44 and coat 46. Without invention, but two opposite strands may be cut back as stated and a single hairpin-like member substituted for the pair of similar members described.

In the final method of constructing the novel line end, the procedure is illustrated :in Figures 22 to 25. Here, preferably three strands, such as strands 32, 35, and 36 are severed at the points 50 spaced inwardly from the free end 31 of the line A, leaving the projecting adjacent strands 30 and 3| and strands 34 and 33.1 Two of the points 50 are, as heretofore, preferably on diametrically opposite sides of the wire line A and the third point is at the axis of the line, as shown in Figure 24. Now, the projecting portions of the strands 3t and 3| and 33 and 34 are uhtwisted and their extremities, which constitute the free end 31 of the wire line A, are paired, curved and united in pairs so that a bight portion is formed by the united pairs. Preferably, thev free ends of the strands 3|], 3|, 33, and 34 areifunited by welding so that the cap or ferrule 4| is also formed by the weld. Additionally, the coat #6 is applied, as by welding, more particularly asiheretofore set out. It is apparent that the steps of cutting back to the points 50 and then cutting back to the point or points 5| may be reversed without affecting the method, and that the several welds, if welding is employed, may be made in rotation different from that set out herein, without departin from the spirit of the invention.

The tapered forward end or nose of the wire line end enables it to be readily inserted into a confined space, such as that between a sheave and a block, under derrick sills, or through the rough surface of holes in highway guard posts. Because, in no case is the greatest width of the eye portion of this novel wire line end greater than thediameter of the line itself, any space which will accommodate the line will also accommodate the eye portion, yet a strong, sturdy construction is provided.

It should be understood that this wire line end is provided not to take any exceptionally heavy load but so that it may be linked, for example, to a chain, or may be easily wired to another line in order to cause the line of which it forms a part to follow over the sheave in taking off or putting on a casing line or hoisting cable. In other words, the novel line end is provided more particularly for threading purposes.

The coat 46 has a dual function. Not only does it secure the strands, forming the eye portion, to the line A at the inner end of the eye 4|, but it also covers the more or less ragged or sharp edges at the extremity of the severed strands, so that they will not injure the workmen, damage the rope or line attached to the line A, nor catch upon the walls of the confined spaces through which the end must pass.

Various changes may be made to the form of invention as well as the steps in the method, herein shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is: g

1. In a wire eyed end of a wire line, an eye portion comprising at least one wire strand, sub- 5. portion-comprising at least one strand of bend- I able wire, substantially integral with said line,

, said line having a diameter at least as great at 1 all times as the greatest width of said eye portion, the outer extremity of said eye portion being l tapered.

3; In. an' eyed end of a multiple wire strand l line; aneye portion of Wire strand having a bight and 'spaced apart arms, the ends of said arms opposite said bight joining said line at points on substantially diametrically opposite sides of said line.

4. In an eyed end of a multiple wire strand line, an eye portion of wire strand having a bight and spaced apart arms, the ends of said arms Opposite said bight joining said line at points on substantially diametrically opposite sides of said line, said line having a diameter at least as great at. all times as the greatest width of said eyed I portion;

- Iinaan eye portion of wire strand having a bight, at the outer extremity of said eye portion, and

5; In an eyed end of a multiple wire strand 'spaced apart arms extending from said bight, .the ends of said arms opposite said bight joining opposite sides of said line, and means both securing said arms'to said line and providing a cap 'over said line at the inner extremity of said eye.

6.- In an eyed end of a wire line, an eye por- V 7. In an eyed end of a multiple wire strand as great at all times as the greatest width of said ieye portion.

8. The steps in the method of providing a bendable eye portion of bendable wire to an end of a multiple strand wire line which comprise forming from bendable wire a bight and spaced apart arms from said bight to said line, and posi- H tioning said arms with respect to said line so arms i'rom said bight to said line, and positionsaid line at points on substantially diametrically tion formed from the material comprising said line, said line having a diameter at least as great at all times as the greatest width of'said eye portion.

line, an eye portion formed. from a portion of said strands, said line having a diameter at least "ing-from bendable wire a bight and spaced apart ing said arms with respect to said line so that the point of juncture of said arms and line will be at substantially diametrically opposite sides of said line;

7 10.-The steps in the method of providing an eye portion 'on an end of a multiple strand wire line which comprise removing a portion of one of said strands at a point spaced from the end of said line; removing a portion of at least one'other of said strands at a point spaced intermediate said first named point and the end of said line, untwisting a strand extending to the end of said line, forming said last named strand into aloop, carrying the free end of said last named strand to the point of severance on said line of said first named strand, and securing said free end to said line at said first point of severance.

11. The steps in the method of providing an eye portion on an end of a multiple strand wire line which comprise removing a portion of said strands at a point spaced from the end of said line, removing another portion of said strands at a point spaced intermediate said first named point and the free end of said line, untwisting the strands extending to the end of said line, forming saidlast named strands into a loop, carrying the free ends of said last named strands to the point of severance on said line of said first named strands, securing said free ends of said last named strands to said line at said point 01' severance of said first named strands, and welda wire'strand, laying the free end portions of said legs in the spaces left by the removal of said first named strands with said bight projecting beyond the extremity of said line, and securing said legs to said line.

13. The method of providing an eye portion on an end of a multiple strand twisted wire line which comprises removing a portion of said strands at a point spaced from the end of said line so that an even. number of strands remain extending to said end, forming an eye portion from said remaining strands, securing the free ends of said remaining strands together, capping said secured ends, and capping the free ends of said severed strands remaining on said line.

EARL E. WHERRY. 

